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“I do, but it doesn’t make me feel any better to be here like this, to start this relationship on uneven ground.”

She brushed her fingers along his tense jaw. “I’ve got good balance. And so long as I can hold on to you for support until things are level, I know everything will be okay.”

“You’ve put a hell of a lot of faith and trust in me. You have no idea how much I appreciate it. The people I deal with... It’s all lies and manipulations and posturing. No one trusts anyone because everyone is lying and hiding something. And here I am, hiding a part of myself from you, the part that is who I really am.”

“If you want to share it with me now, I swear I won’t say anything to anyone. Ever.”

“I want to so bad, but I can’t. Not because I don’t believe you, but because it could be very dangerous for you to know.”

“They could use me to find out your secret.”

He put his big hand over her cheek and looked her deep in the eyes. “They would hurt you to get it.”

She kissed his chin. “I’m tougher than I look.”

“I know how strong you are. I’ve seen it in the way you handle yourself and rowdy customers at the bar. But this is different.” M kissed her forehead. “You are so special. I can’t believe you’re here with me.”

She brushed her hand over his cheek, noting how tired he looked. “Before you fall asleep, let me wrap your arm.”

“Leave it. I just want to hold you.” He sounded groggier by the second.

“It’ll only take a minute.” She kissed him softly, then climbed out of bed. She quickly used the restroom, then went out to the kitchen to find the supplies he’d gotten at the hospital. On her way back to the bedroom, she heard her phone ping with a text. Probably one of her siblings checking on her. Or her parents, if her sisters told them what had happened tonight.

She pulled her phone out of her purse and stared at the twenty-three notifications. Three from her siblings. Twenty—her phone pinged again—make that twenty-one from Rick.

She scrolled through the first few.

RICK:I hope you’re okay.

RICK:I’m sorry you got hurt.

RICK:I wish I was with you.

RICK:Are you okay?

They got progressively more insistent.

RICK:Why aren’t you answering me!!!

RICK:Call me. Now!

RICK:You don’t want to make me mad.

That one sent a chill up her spine.

RICK:I can’t believe you’re being so selfish and childish and holding this against me.

RICK:How could you do this to me????????

And by the end, he sounded unhinged.

RICK:You’ll regret this.

RICK:I’m going to make it hurt.

“Angel? What are you doing? Come back to bed.”

She silenced her phone and took it and the bag of medical supplies with her into the bedroom.